NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK, opened a new £22 million ($36 million) biomedical research facility this week.
The Biological Support Unit was built with £17 million in funding support and was outfitted with £5 million worth of equipment, including funds from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
"This state-of-the-art facility will be vital, increasing the likelihood of scientific breakthroughs whilst ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare," Science and Innovation Minister Lord Paul Drayson said in a statement.
Babraham said that the BSU building was built with high-tech automation and robotics incorporated into its design.
Research programs at Babraham include epigenetics and cell signaling studies on aging, cancer, heart failure, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and other medical challenges.
"The new facility will enable our scientists to remain at the forefront of globally-competitive biomedical research and enhance bioscience in our region," Babraham Director Michael Wakelam said.